Device and method for supplying cleaning material to a toilet

ABSTRACT

A device for supplying cleaning material for the automatic cleaning of a flush toilet having a tank with an auxiliary aperture comprising: a tube adapted for holding the cleaning material and adapted for insertion into the auxiliary aperture, the tube having a first portion adapted to allow it to pass through the auxiliary aperture, and a second portion designed to be external to the tank when installed therein. The device further includes a dosage mechanism disposed in the first portion of the tube for dosing a quantity of cleaning material, adapted for dispensing the quantity of the cleaning material into the tank upon flushing of the toilet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device and method for supplying cleaning material to a flush toilet, in particular for the automatic cleaning thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous devices exist for the automatic cleaning, disinfecting, deodorizing, etc. (hereinafter “cleaning”) of flush toilets.

Many of these devices are attachable to the bowl of the toilet while others are attached or inserted in the tank of the toilet.

FR 2648169, to Dugay, discloses a device mounted in an aperture in the side of a toilet tank for permitting the diffusion of a disinfectant and coloring substance into a toilet bowl. The device comprises a flexible plastic tube having a portion internal to the tank with soap cylinders therein and perforations for permitting the diffusion of the substance. The release of the substance is actuated by a ring that slides on the outside of the end of the tube, the ring being of a size that precludes installation via the aperture.

FR 2770863, to Hassani, discloses an arrangement consisting of a container attached to the outside of a toilet tank by a hollow threaded rod inserted in a side aperture in the tank. The container has a lid, an inner compartment for solid or liquid disinfectant, a float with a stopper for stopping flow of disinfectant into the tank when the tank is full and a regulator to the control the flow rate. A supple tube passes through the hollow rod for dispensing a controlled amount of disinfectant each time the toilet is flushed. The container is fastened to the tank using a nut and a washer, larger than the aperture and disposed inside the tank, thus requiring opening of the tank during installation.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,320,128, to Hall, discloses a device for the automatic measurement, dilution and distribution of concentrated liquid disinfectant discharged by gravity flow into a tank having a removable cover. A reservoir holding the disinfectant is located on top of the tank's cover and secured thereto by inter-engaging screwed portions. A pipe depending from the reservoir depends into the tank and contains a chamber for measuring the disinfectant supplied to the tank.

GB 421,193, to Stanwell, discloses a fluid mixing device screwed to the cover of a flushing tank comprising a mixing fluid chamber holding a mixing fluid and a small bore tube. A large bore dip pipe extends down into the tank and upon flushing, the downward movement of the flushed water produces a piston effect drawing an amount of mixing fluid into the tank.

Devices of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,320,128 and GB 421,193, being designed for installation on the cover of the tank, interfere with removal of the tank cover or at least make removal thereof more difficult thereby hindering normal maintenance of the tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device and method for supplying cleaning material for the automatic cleaning of a flush toilet having a tank. Toilet tanks are commonly manufactured with two apertures, one on either side of the tank, for allowing flexibility of installation of a water inlet pipe, depending upon which aperture proves most convenient. It is an idea of the present invention to use the unused aperture for mounting therein the device of the present invention without the necessity of opening the tank.

The tank may be outfitted with an additional aperture, for example for installation of piping as part of a bidet, wherein this additional aperture is typically located at the bottom of the tank. The unused aperture, or apertures, is typically plugged.

If no unused aperture exists in a tank, one can be formed, for example, by drilling. Such an aperture in a toilet tank, whether already existing in the tank when installed or one formed therein afterward, is hereinafter in the specification and claims referred to as an “auxiliary aperture”.

The device of the present invention comprises: a tube adapted for holding cleaning material and adapted for insertion through an auxiliary aperture, the tube having a first portion adapted to allow passage thereof through the auxiliary aperture, and a second portion designed to be external to the tank when installed therein; and a dosage mechanism disposed in the first portion of the tube for dosing a quantity of cleaning material, adapted for dispensing the quantity of the cleaning material into the tank upon flushing of the toilet.

The method of the present invention comprises: providing a device for supplying cleaning material to a toilet tank, the device comprising a tube adapted for holding the cleaning material and adapted for insertion through an auxiliary aperture, the tube having a first portion dimensioned to allow passage of this first portion through the aperture, and a second portion designed to be external to the tank when installed therein, and a dosage mechanism disposed in the first portion of the tube for dosing a quantity of cleaning material, adapted for dispensing the quantity of the cleaning material into the tank upon flushing of the toilet; and installing the device in the auxiliary aperture.

Advantages of the device of the present invention include:

-   -   The device is adapted for locating at the toilet tank and not         the toilet bowl where cleaning material has a tendency to stain         the wall of the bowl and dosage of the cleaning material is         dependent on the flow characteristics of the flushing water upon         flushing.     -   Installation of the device at the tank precludes an installer         from coming in contact, or close to contact, with the toilet         bowl which is potentially unhygienic.     -   Supplying cleaning material into the tank prior to the toilet         bowl facilitates an even distribution of cleaning material.     -   Supplying cleaning material into the tank and in a manner that         does not require close contact with the material, allows the use         of high strength cleaning.     -   Refilling of cleaning material for the device does not require         touching the toilet bowl.     -   The device can be installed without removing the tank cover.     -   The device does not provide any hindrance to opening the tank         cover if desired, for example, for tank maintenance.     -   The device is very easy to install.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, some embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a toilet tank and a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, installed therein for cleaning a flush toilet;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion designated as II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a fixing arrangement for the device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a toilet tank and a device installed therein for cleaning a flush toilet according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an alternate tube for the device in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate examples of reservoirs, and holders therefor, for the device of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a dosage mechanism for the device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a standard toilet tank T of a flush toilet (not shown in its entirety). For clarity, the float assembly typically associated with such toilet tanks for controlling tank-water refill, is not shown. The tank T has a cover C, side walls S1 and S2 and a bottom B. The tank T further comprises a water outlet O in the bottom B, wherefrom water exits the tank upon flushing of the toilet and two apertures in the side walls S1 and S2. One of these apertures serves as a water inlet I and the other is an auxiliary aperture A which is typically formed in toilet tanks to provide flexibility of installation.

Fixed at the auxiliary aperture A of the tank T is a device 10 of the present invention for supplying cleaning material 12 for the automatic cleaning of a flush toilet.

The device 10 can be designed as a one-time use item wherein it is replaced when the cleaning material 12 has been depleted. Alternatively, the device 10 can further comprise a reservoir 14 containing additional cleaning material and allowing the refilling thereof via a lid 16.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a portion designated as II in FIG. 1, whereby details of the device 10 are noticeable.

The device 10 comprises a tube 20 having a first portion 21 dimensioned to allow passage through the auxiliary aperture A and a second portion 22 designed to be external to the toilet tank T when installed therein. Thus the device 10 can be easily installed without opening of the cover C of the tank T.

The device 10 also comprises a dosage mechanism 24 disposed in the first portion 21 for dosing and dispensing a quantity of the cleaning material 12 upon flushing of the toilet. One option for the design of such a dosage mechanism is illustrated. In this example, the tube 20 comprises a wider portion 26 housing a float 28—shown as a ball although it may be of other suitable shapes, as will be understood. The tube 20 and the disposition of the dosage mechanism 24 are such that when flushing water collects in the tank T, the dosage mechanism is submerged in the water.

The float 28 is of a density such that when there is flushing water in the tank T it floats upward and is sealably held against an upper narrow portion 30 of the dosage mechanism 24 and when the water is flushed the float drops to sealably associate with a lower narrow portion 32 of the dosage mechanism. Thus, an amount of cleaning material 12 that collects inside the dosage mechanism 24 is supplied to the tank T upon flushing of the toilet.

The tube 20 can be integral with the dosage mechanism 24 or attachable thereto. By one aspect, the tube 20 could be made of a flexible material with the weight of the dosage mechanism 24 enabling the downward positioning of the mechanism.

The tube 20 can be adapted to facilitate a pressure fit to fix the device 10 at the auxiliary aperture A as the device is not heavy and thus does not require a strong connection; nor is a sealable connection necessary if auxiliary aperture A is above the tank water line, as is typical. For such a fit, the tube 20 is preferably designed to taper adjacent its second portion 22 so that the tube is suitably held at auxiliary aperture A.

However, instead of, or in conjunction with, the pressure fitting, the device 10 may further comprise a fixing arrangement 34 for fixing the tube 20 at the auxiliary aperture A. The fixing arrangement 34 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a flexible mushroom type seal 36 which can be pushed through the auxiliary aperture A and opens to its normal state upon passing the aperture to thereby fix the device 10 at the sidewall S1. This is particularly useful if the auxiliary aperture A is below the waterline, especially in cases where it is located in the bottom B of the tank T and the fixing arrangement 34 needs to provide a relatively strong sealing connection. A nut 35 tunable on a threaded portion 37 can be used to tighten the fixing arrangement 34.

Alternatively, or in combination with design of the above-described fixing arrangements, the fixing arrangement 34 can comprise a cylindrical sealing sleeve 38, preferably tapered, as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein the auxiliary aperture A is in the bottom B of the tank T—which may, for example, be intended to allow the installation of piping for a bidet. To install a device 10 a as shown, the water inlet to the tank T is first shut, the water in the tank is drained by flushing it and then a tube 20 a is installed through the auxiliary aperture A. It is noticed that the tube 20 a bends back on itself in order to provide an orientation for the dosage mechanism 24 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

To allow passage through the auxiliary aperture A, the tube, in whatever configuration, must not be too wide to pass therethrough. One example for accomplishing this is by providing a narrow tube 20 a such that even in the portion where is folded back on itself (presumably the widest portion) it is still dimensioned to allow passage through the auxiliary aperture A.

In another example, illustrated in FIG. 5 there is a tube 20 b having dimensions as in FIGS. 1 and 2, however a portion 40 of the tube is flexible, thereby allowing it to fold back on itself thus allowing the dosage mechanism 24 to be oriented as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

Reverting to FIG. 4, the reservoir 14 is attached to the second portion 22 of the tube 20 via an extended hose 42. A hose of this nature can be used to allow arranging the reservoir in various locations as desired and which may prove convenient based on space limitations adjacent the tank T. The reservoir 14 can be further stabilized by fixing to an adjacent wall of the bathroom (not shown).

The extended hose 42 is also beneficial in the case where the tank T is of the hidden type—typically behind an adjacent wall—wherein the reservoir 14 can be arranged in a location convenient for refilling the cleaning material 12.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate reservoir arrangements which are suitable for use with any of the above-described embodiments. FIG. 6A shows an example of a reservoir 14 a in combination with a holder 46 such as those used with water coolers. Such an arrangement allows for the addition of cleaning material 12 without the need for opening a lid or the pouring of the cleaning material. Optionally, the reservoir may regardless comprise a lid 16 a to enable refilling.

FIG. 6B shows another example of a reservoir 14 b in combination with a holder 48. Again the attachment of the reservoir is analogous to that of water coolers. However, the holder 48 comprises an arm 50 which can function to additionally hold the reservoir 14 b from the side and, if made of a clear material can act as a site glass for determining the level of the cleaning material 12 in the reservoir. Thus, the reservoir 14 b itself need not be of a clear material for the user to determine when to replace the reservoir (or optionally to refill it if provided with a lid 16 b).

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a dosage mechanism 24 a for dispensing a cleaning material in the form of pellets, capsules, powder and the like (hereinafter in the specification and claims: “pellets”). The dosage mechanism 24 a comprises a flap 52 within a tube 20 c and a float 28 a having an upwardly facing wand 54. When the tank T is full of water the float 28 a rises to stopper the tube 20 c at its upper narrowed portion 30 a and such that its wand 54 pushes the flap 52 upward thereby releasing a quantity of pellets 56. When the water is flushed, the float 28 a drops and releases the pellets 56.

A device of the present invention intended for dispensing pellets 56 can be of a one-time use type or adapted to allow recharging of pellets in a variety of ways. For example, the proximal end 22 of the tube 20 c could be openable to allow an injector appliance, or the like, to inject pellets.

It should be understood that while the device and method of the present invention has described in relation to toilets, the present invention can be used with any suitable tank, domestic or industrial.

Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations and modifications can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in and by the appended claims. 

1-15. (canceled) 16) A device for supplying cleaning material for the automatic cleaning of a flush toilet having a tank with an auxiliary aperture comprising: a tube adapted for holding said cleaning material and adapted for insertion into said auxiliary aperture, the tube having a first portion adapted to allow passage of said first portion through the auxiliary aperture, and a second portion designed to be external to the tank when installed therein; and a dosage mechanism disposed in the first portion of the tube for dosing a 10 quantity of cleaning material, adapted for dispensing said quantity of said cleaning material into said tank upon flushing of said flush toilet. 17) The device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a fixing arrangement associated with the first portion and adapted to fit in the auxiliary aperture to provide stable mounting of the device. 18) The device according to either of claim 1, wherein the fixing arrangement comprises a mushroom seal. 19) The device according to either of claim 1, wherein the fixing arrangement comprises a sleeve-shaped seal. 20) The device according to either of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir adapted for connection to the second portion of the tube for storing additional cleaning material. 21) The device according to claim 1, wherein the dosage mechanism comprises a float designed to float in water and control the dosing. 22) The device according to claim 1, wherein the tube is flexible. 23) The device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning material is a liquid. 24) The device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning material is comprised of pellets. 25) The device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary aperture is in a sidewall of the tank. 26) The device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary aperture is in a bottom portion of the tank. 27) The device according to claim 5, wherein the reservoir is adapted to be replaceable. 28) A method for supplying cleaning material for automatically cleaning a flush toilet having a tank with an auxiliary aperture comprising: providing a device for supplying said cleaning material, the device comprising a tube adapted for holding said cleaning material and adapted for insertion through said auxiliary aperture, the tube having a first portion dimensioned to allow passage of said first portion through the auxiliary aperture, and a second portion designed to be external to the tank when installed therein, and a dosage mechanism disposed in the first portion of the tube for dosing a quantity of cleaning material, adapted for dispensing said quantity of said cleaning material into said tank upon flushing of said flush toilet; and installing the device in the auxiliary aperture. 29) A method according to claim 13, further comprising providing a replaceable reservoir for supplying the cleaning material into the device. 30) A replaceable reservoir for use with the device according to claim
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